The Non Communicative Parents: Of Thoughts Spoken and Unheard

“No Ma you can’t do this”, Sheena exasperatedly said.

“It is just for a day child”, replied her mother.

“Just for a day….. What do you mean?” Sheena asked awkwardly. 

“Just for a day means, just for a day” her mother said nonchalantly.

“No way! I don’t want or wish to entertain those guests of yours. Won’t the company for which they are working, allocate rooms for them, hmm?” Sheena asked her mother, trying to keep her temper in control.

After a few minutes her mother shook her head, “NO” and started cleaning the room.

“Look child, this is our decision so…just shut up”, her mother said.

“But this is my house too…….” Sheena interjected. She did not continue as she knew the discussion was over.

And then Sheena’s helplessness made her cry. Alone…because her family did not understand her feelings of hopelessness and loneliness which she had suffered through the 28 years of her life. Everyone in her family seemed to be flying high in sky and she….she felt like the only one left behind. The one misfit. Her parents were too caught up in their own world of success. She felt like the tortoise among a pack of hares.

Three year later, after multiple rejection letters from publishers to whom she had sent the manuscript of her book ‘Soul Search’, her first book was officially launched. And what a launch! Hosted by Crosswords bookstore, the top bookstore chain, at one of the best locations in the heart of Mumbai, the launch saw the who’s who of literary world attend it. Except her family, which was the only missing bit at this grand event.

Because from that fateful day she began to hate them, especially her mother, from the bottom of her heart. That day had been the final straw, the eye-opener. They never wished nor tried to understand what Sheena really wanted and wished from life. They had no patience for her slow steps. But….the tortoise eventually won.